Bracket assembly and support system

ABSTRACT

A bracket assembly for a support system utilizing a plurality of such bracket assemblies, the bracket assembly being adapted to be supported by a wall support and to project therefrom and being adjustably securable to a cornice, the bracket assembly including a member slideably movable on the free end thereof, and having cornice connector means and an adjustable member engaging the slideable member for raising and lowering the slideable member with respect to the free end.

O United States Patent m1 3,561,714

[72] Inventors Edward F. Zurawski 1,565,735 l2/l925 Greenhut 248/265 Niles; 2,433,527 12/1947 Mohr et al. l60/l 9 Richard R. Ruhnke, Skokie, Ill. 3.38 l 425 5/ i968 Gobel 52/96 (21 1 App! N 3. FOREIGN PATENTS [321 PM 206,057 10/1955 Australia l08/l08 F 228,433 l2/I 962 Austria 248/243 [73] Asslgnee Garey Corporation 3 ti n t Illi i Primary Examiner- Roy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss Attorney-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon [54] BRACKET ASSEMBLY AND SUPPORT SYSTEM 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

1 /1 160/19 ABSTRACT: A bracket assembly for a support system utiliz- [5 Int. a plurality of uch bracke[ asse nblies the bracket 5. i 50] Field of Search 248/258, sembly being adapted to be supported by a n Support and to 24 I; 160/19; 108/103; 52/2871 project therefrom and being adjustably securable to a cornice, 718 the bracket assembly including a member slideably movable Reemnces cued on the free end thereof, and having cornice connector means and an adjustable member engaging the slideable member for UNITED STATES PATENTS raising and lowering the slideable member with respect to the 1,299.234 4/1919 Russell 248/244 free end.

PATENIED FEB 9 i971 BRACKET ASSEMBLY AND SUPPORT SYSTEM In prior art cantilever support brackets, such as those hooked to and projecting from wall-supported, slotted vertical standards. difficulties have been encountered in connecting comices to the free ends of such support brackets. In known constructions it has usually been necessary to carefully align each of the brackets vertically with respect to each of the other horizontally spaced brackets and then to hold the cor nice up while securing the brackets thereto. Alternatively, long portions of the brackets have been connected to the cor nice and then the entire awkward assembly has been lifted into engagement with the standards or with elongate other portions of the brackets to suspend the cornice.

In accordance with this invention, cantilever bracket assem' blies have been devised which obviate the problems just described, among others. Not only do they obviate such problems, but they provide constructions which are quickly and easily mounted to comices and with a minimum of careful measurement and location of the parts of the bracket assemblies to be connected to elongate cornices.

To that end, and in accordance with this invention, a cantilever bracket assembly, which may be a telescoping assembly, is secured to a wall support at one end. The projecting or free end is provided with an adjustable means for securing a cornice thereto. in a support system, each of a plurality of such bracket assemblies is desirably provided with such adjustable means for securance to a member such as a cornice at horizontally spaced locations therealong.

The adjustment means comprise a slide member slidably mounted on the free end of the bracket assembly for movement in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bracket assembly, The free end of the bracket assembly also provides adjustment and stop means to adjust the position of the slide member and to stop it from moving beyond a predetermined position in one direction.

More specifically, in the embodiments to be described herein, the slide member defines slot means for receiving ears projecting from the free end of the bracket assembly, and the adjustment and stop means comprises a screw threadedly connected to the free end of the bracket assembly, an end of which screw is movable normal to the longitudinal axis of the bracket assembly for supporting engagement of a shelf segment of the slide member. Adjustment of the elevation of one end of the screw results in adjustment of the position of the slide member with respect to the free end of the bracket assembly. The slide member defines a plurality of apertures which, with screws passing therethrough, serve to connect a cornice to the support brackets.

As will be observed, the slide member is removable from the bracket assembly and is thus separately securable to a cornice. It is only necessary, unlike in prior art constructions, to remove the slide member, to determine the horizontal position it should assume respecting the length of the cornice; to determine the approximate vertical elevation it should assume on the cornice and then to secure it to the cornice. After the requisite plurality of such slide members are so secured, the assembled slide members and cornice are easily lifted and positioned on the ends of the bracket assemblies. To adjust the final elevation of the cornice and to make certain that each bracket assembly substantially equally supports the cornice, the adjustment and stop means, such as adjustment screws, are adjusted until they all contact shelves of the respective slide members.

This, quite clearly, is far simpler than first attaching two or more of the elongate assemblies or elongate portions thereof to the cornice and then to seek to mount the cornice and connected assemblies, or to adjust the height by slotted bracket assembly ends which must be screwed to the cornice in the comice's final position and while the cornice is elevated and suspended.

In accordance with this invention final securance of the slide members to the cornice may be completed while the cornice is in a convenient position and the final adjustments are made simply via the adjustment means or screws.

Further and other advantages and purposes of this invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings ofwhich:

FIG, 1 illustrates a bracket assembly ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative showing ofa support system incorporating the principles oflhis invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view ofa portion of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 8; and

FIG, 8 is a view similar to FIG. I of a further embodiment of this inventionv Referring first to FIG. I an elongate cantilever support bracket assembly 10 of this invention, comprises an elongate cantilever section having a first elongate member I4 adapted to be supported in a generally horizontal plane from a verti cally slotted wall-mounted standard 15. Member I4 includes a connector portion 16 which terminates at one end in an integral hook l8 proportioned to be accommodated within a slot along the length of vertical slotted standard 15. The end of connector portion 16 bearing hook II! also is formed with a vertical edge 20 which bears against the surface of standard l5 to maintain the horizontal disposition of bracket assembly 10 and first member 14 thereof in a well-known manner. The edge 20 terminates at the lower end in an upwardly inclined edge surface 22 which terminates forwardly inwardly of member [4.

Member [4 also includes two V-shaped channels 24 defining a box-shape configuration in outer outline, the channels sandwiching and being spotwelded to connector portion 16. Forwardly at connector portion 16, channels 24 are secured to each other via spotwelded inwardly projecting portions as at 25 to provide a unitary rigid first member 14.

An elongate second telescoping member 26 having internal dimensions substantially corresponding to the box-shape outer outline of member I4 is positioned to receive member 14 and is adapted to slide thereon. Member 26 is generally rectangular in transverse cross section and may be thusly formed from a piece of fiat sheet steel stock. Along its length, at its base, telescoping member 26 defines a longitudinal slot 28 proportioned to slideably receive and accommodate connector portion [6 (as seen in FIG. 2) so that telescoping member 26 may move along the length of first member 14.

At its forward end, telescoping member 26 provides a pair of mounting ears 30. Ears 30 are disposed in a common plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of telescoping member 26 and are folded out from the sides of telescoping member 26.

In accordance with this invention, the bracket assembly 10 includes means for adjustable securance to an elongate member to be supported such as a cornice C. The adjustable means, includes a slide member or plate 32, which is slideably mounted on cars 30. Slide plate 32 comprises a vertical main plate section 34 terminating at its upper end in a shelf or rearwardly extending horizontal support segment 36 which desirably is formed by folding a portion of main plate 34 rearwardly to a planar position normal to the plane of main plate section 34. To the vertical side portions of the main plate, a pair of slide guides 38 are attached. Slide guides 38 have inner portions 40 which overlie ears 30. The horizontal spacing between adjacent inner portions 40 is such that the ears 30 are slideably and captively mounted between portions 40 and main plate 34 (see FIG. 4). Thus, slide plate 32 may be moved vertically with respect to ears 30 and telescoping member 26.

Slide plate 30 also provides a pair of filler plates 42 which are substantially the same thickness as the ears 30. Filler plates 42 are disposed between main plate 34 and slide guides 38 so that inner portions 40 are positioned away from plate 34 a distance sufficient to define slots with slide guides 38 and main plate section 34. to receive ears 30 for sliding movement with respect to slide plate 32. Desirably the distance between the inner edges 44 of filler 42 is only slightly greater than the distance between the edges 46 of cars 30, wherefore tiller plate edges 44 serve to limit transverse movement of the ears with respect to slide plate 32 and to slidingly guide the slide plate for vertical movement with respect to ear edges 46. Main plate 34, slide guides 38 and filler plates 42 are integrated as by spot welding to each other.

Vertical adjustment and support of slide plate 32 is provided via an adjustment and stop means orjack assembly comprising an adjustment screw 50 which threadingly mates with a threaded means integrated with bracket assembly [0. The threaded means illustrated comprises an internally threaded nut 52 welded to the upper surface 54 of telescoping member 26. Thus the end 56 of adjustment screw 50 may be moved vertically with respect to telescoping member 26 by use of a tool such as a screwdriver inserted in the slot in head 58 of screw 50. Screw end 56 supports slide plate 32 via its engagement with shelf 36. Slide plate 32 may be lowered or raised i.e., vertically adjusted. with respect to the surface 54 of telescoping member 26 by threaded adjustment of the screw 50 Slide plate 32 is provided with a plurality of means for securance to an elongate structural member, such as a wooden cornice C, to suspend the cornice. To that end plate 32 defines a plurality of screw holes 60, through which holes screws 62 are adapted to pass into threaded engagement with cornice C In normal use, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of such bracket assemblies are used to provide a support system for an elongate member, the system being shown in one typical environment. To attach bracket assemblies to a member such as cornice C has been a substantial problem with prior constructions because of the requirements of aligning the ends of the assemblies exactly with the others. Further, it was usually necessary to attach telescoping members to the cornice, and then reassemble them with the first wall-mounted bracket members, an awkward job. lt was also necessary to align each of the telescoping member ends horizontally with respect to the others. it they were not so aligned, then some of the assemblies would not serve to support the cornice or the assemblies might support the cornice at an angle.

in accordance with the structure here disclosed, it is only necessary to determine the horizontal spacing between the positions of the assemblies and the approximate vertical eleva' tion of the cornice support assemblies with respect to the cor nice. Thereafter, the slide plates 32 only may be connected to the cornice at the desired spacing and at the approximate vertical elevation. Then the cornice with the connected slide plates is brought into sliding engagement with the ears of the telescoping members. The adjustment screws are then positioned to engage the shelves of the slide plates to align the eornice horizontally with each of the bracket assemblies so that each of the bracket assemblies properly contributes to the support of the cornice C. By this, each cornice bracket assembly serves its intended function and is secured rapidly and far more easily than in the past to the cornice.

Referring now to the embodiment of P105. 6 to 8, an den gate cantilever support bracket assembly 10' comprises an elongate cantilever section having a first elongate member 14' adapted to be supported in a generally horizontal plane from standard 15. Member 14' includes a connector portion 16 which terminates at one end in an integral hook 18' adapted to be received in a slot in standard 15. The end of connector portion 16' bearing book 18' also is formed with a vertical edge 20' like vertical edge 20. Member 14' is tubular in shape and is secured as by spot welding to connector portion 16' in a known manner to provide a unitary rigid first member 14. An elongate generally U-shaped second telescoping member 26' having external dimensions substantially corresponding to the internal shape of member 14' is positioned to receive member 14' and is adapted to slide therein. One or more stops 27 are struck outwardly from member 26' to limit the inward move ment of member 26'. At its forward end. member 26 provides a pair of mounting ears 30' like and disposed like cars 30. Bracket assembly lll' also includes means for adjustable securance to such as a cornice C. The adjustable means. includes a slide member or plate 32', which is slideably mounted on the ears 30'. Slide plate 32' comprises a vertical main plate section 34' terminating at its upper end in a shelf or rearwardly extending horizontal support segment 36' which desirably is formed as by folding a portion of main plate 34' rcarwardly. Plate section 34' defines a pair of slide guides 38' struck out therefrom. Slide guides 38 overlie the ears. The horizontal spacing between adjacent edges is such that the ears are slideably and captively mounted between guides 38' and main plate 34. Thus. slide plate 32' may be moved vertically with respect to the ears and member 26'.

The slide guides 38' are spaced away from plate section 34' a distance sufficient to define slots to receive the ears for sliding movement with respect to slide plate 32. Desirably the distance between the edges 44' is only slightly greater than the distance between the edges of the ears 30', wherefore the inner surfaces of edges 44' serve to limit transverse movement of the ears with respect to slide plate 32 and to slidingly guide the slide plate for vertical movement with respect to the ear edges.

Vertical adjustment and support of slide plate 32' is provided via an adjustment and stop means or jack assembly comprising an adjustment screw 50' which threadingly mates with a threaded means supported on the bracket assembly 10'. The threaded means illustrated comprises an internally threaded nut 52' welded to a U-shaped clip 72' and which is seated on the upper surface 54' of telescoping member 26'. Member 26' is notched at '{Q to seat and prevent slidingrearwardly of clip 72'. Clip 72 thus is nestled between notch 74' and the slide plate 32'. Adjustment screw 50' defines a screwdriver receiving slot for movement vertically with respect to telescoping member 26' by use of a tool such as a screwdriver inserted in the slot in head 56'. The slot is accessible through an opening 76' in shelf 36' which opening is smaller than head 56'. Head 56' thus supports slide plate 32' via its engagement with shelf 36' adjacent opening 76'. Slide plate 32' may be lowered or raised, i.e., vertically adjusted, with respect to the surface 54 of telescoping member 26' by threaded adjustment of the screw 50'.

Slide plate 32' like plate 32 is provided with a plurality of means for securance to an elongate structural member, such as a wooden comice C, to suspend the cornice, and with a plurality of screw holes 60, through which holes screws are adapted to pass into threaded engagement with cornice C. Thus, the embodiment of P105. 6 to 8 is adapted to be used in the same manner as that of H05. 1 to 5.

We claim:

I. In a cantilever bracket assembly adapted to project from a wall support, said bracket assembly comprising an elongate means secured at one end to said wall support and being free at the other end, means at said other end for adjustable securance to a member to be suspended, said means comprising a slide member defining slot means, ear means on said other end in slideable engagement with said slot means in said slide member, adjustment and stop means engaging said other end and said slide member for adjustable vertical positioning of said slide member with respect to said other end, and means on said slide member for connecting said member to be suspended thereto, said adjustment and stop means comprising an adjustment screw threadedly secured to said other end, said adjustment screw projecting vertically for free supporting engagement of said slide member for adjusting the elevation of said slide member with respect to said other end and with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongate means.

2. in the cantilever bracket assembly of claim 1 in which said slide member comprises a vertical portion in slideable en gagement with said other end and a horizontal support segment resting on said adjustment and stop means.

3. ln the cantilever bracket assembly of claim 1 in which said slide member comprises a support segment resting on said adjustment screw.

4. in the cantilever bracket assembly of claim I. in which said elongate means comprises a first member secured at one end to said wall support and a second member telescopically receiving said first member. projecting beyond said first member and providing said free end, said free end being remote from said wall support.

5. In a support system having a plurality of horizontally spaced elongate cantilever support bracket assemblies each being suspended at one end from a wall support to project horizontally from said wall support, each said support bracket assembly having adjustable securance means at the other end for securing an elongate cornice member thereto. said adjustable securance means comprising vertical ears at said other end. a vertical slide member defining ear receiving slot means and mounted for vertical sliding movement on said ears, screw adjustment means threadingly mounted on said other end and supportingly engaging said vertical slide member to slideahly adjust the vertical elevation of said slide member. and connection means on said slide member for securing said adjustable securance means to said cornice member for supporting said cornice member whereby each of said other ends is adapted to support said cornice member along the length of said elongate cornice member.

6. In a cantilever bracket assembly adapted to project from a wall support. said bracket assembly comprising an elongate means secured at one end to said wall support and being free at the other end, means at said other end for adjustable securance to a member to be suspended. said means comprising a slide member defining slot means, ear means on said other end in slideable engagement with said slot means in said slide member, adjustment and stop means engaging said other end and said slide member for adjustable positioning of said slide member with respect to said other end. and means on said slide member for connecting said member to be suspended thereto. said adjustment and stop means comprising an adjustment screw threadedly secured to said other end. said adjustment screw projecting upwardly for supporting engagement with said slide member for adjusting the elevation of said slide member with respect to said other end. said adjustment and stop means further comprising a removable clip assembly seated on said other end and said adjustment screw having a head in engagement with said slide member.

7. In a support bracket assembly suspendablc at one end from a wall support to project horizontally from said wall. said support bracket assembly having adjustable securance means at the other end for securing a cornice member thereto. said adjustable securance means comprising vertical cars at said other end. a vertical slide member defining ear receiving slot means and mounted for vertical sliding movement on said ears. screw adjustment means threadingly mounted on said other end and supportingly engaging said vertical slide member to adjust the elevation of said slide member. and con nection means on said slide member for securing said adjusta ble securance means to said cornice member for supporting said cornice member. said vertical slide member including a horizontal section overlying said screw adjustment means. and the upper end of said screw adjustment means supportingly engaging said horizontal section to adjust the elevation of said slide member. 

1. In a cantilever bracket assembly adapted to project from a wall support, said bracket assembly comprising an elongate means secured at one end to said wall support and being free at the other end, means at said other end for adjustable securance to a member to be suspended, said means comprising a slide member defining slot means, ear means on said other end in slideable engagement with said slot means in said slide member, adjustment and stop means engaging said other end and said slide member for adjustable vertical positioning of said slide member with respect to said other end, and means on said slide member for connecting said member to be suspended thereto, said adjustment and stop means comprising an adjustment screw threadedly secured to said other end, said adjustment screw projecting vertically for free supporting engagement of said slide member for adjusting the elevation of said slide member with respect to said other end and with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongate means.
 2. In the cantilever bracket assembly of claim 1 in which said slide member comprises a vertical portion in slideable engagement with said other end and a horizontal support segment resting on said adjustment and stop means.
 3. In the cantilever bracket assembly of claim 1 in which said slide member comprises a support segment resting on said adjustment screw.
 4. In the cantilever bracket assembly of claim 1, in which said elongate means comprises a first member secured at one end to said wall support and a second member telescopically receiving said first member, projecting beyond said first member and providing said free end, said free end being remote from said wall support.
 5. In a support system having a plurality of horizontally spaced elongate cantilever support bracket assemblies each being suspended at one end from a wall support to project horizontally from said wall support, each said support bracket assembly having adjustable securance means at the other end for securing an elongate cornice member thereto, said adjustable securance means comprising vertical ears at said other end, a vertical slide member defining ear receiving slot means and mounted for vertical sliding movement on said ears, screw adjustment means threadingly mounted on said other end and supportingly engaging said vertical slide member to slideably adjust the vertical elevation of said slide member, and connection means on said slide member for securing said adjustable securance means to said cornice member for supporting said cornice member whereby each of said other ends is adapted to support said cornice member along the length of said elongate cornice member.
 6. In a cantilever bracket assembly adapted to project from a wall support, said bracket assembly comprising an elongate means secured at one end to said wall support and being free at the other end, means at said other end for adjustable securance to a member to be suspended, said mEans comprising a slide member defining slot means, ear means on said other end in slideable engagement with said slot means in said slide member, adjustment and stop means engaging said other end and said slide member for adjustable positioning of said slide member with respect to said other end, and means on said slide member for connecting said member to be suspended thereto, said adjustment and stop means comprising an adjustment screw threadedly secured to said other end, said adjustment screw projecting upwardly for supporting engagement with said slide member for adjusting the elevation of said slide member with respect to said other end, said adjustment and stop means further comprising a removable clip assembly seated on said other end and said adjustment screw having a head in engagement with said slide member.
 7. In a support bracket assembly suspendable at one end from a wall support to project horizontally from said wall, said support bracket assembly having adjustable securance means at the other end for securing a cornice member thereto, said adjustable securance means comprising vertical ears at said other end, a vertical slide member defining ear receiving slot means and mounted for vertical sliding movement on said ears, screw adjustment means threadingly mounted on said other end and supportingly engaging said vertical slide member to adjust the elevation of said slide member, and connection means on said slide member for securing said adjustable securance means to said cornice member for supporting said cornice member, said vertical slide member including a horizontal section overlying said screw adjustment means, and the upper end of said screw adjustment means supportingly engaging said horizontal section to adjust the elevation of said slide member. 